Illustrator One-on-One CS6: Advanced Is Now Out at lynda.com

Oh goodness gravy, I have been remiss. Last Thursday, my newest video course, Illustrator CS6 One-on-One: Advanced, hit the virtual shelves of the lynda.com Online Training Library. And it’s been the talk of the town. If you imagine this site is the town. And I’m the only one talking. But it’s been popular so perhaps you’ll want to listen up, even if I’m just yackin’ up my own junk.

The course is 11 hours and 2 minutes long. Exactly 6 minutes shorter than my previous course, Illustrator CS6 One-on-One; Intermediate. Which makes it precisely 0.6% more powerful. (I did the math!) Please allow me to share my favorite three sample files from this inspiring and ultra-long but ultra-inspiring course.

Starting with, are you familiar with the concept of color harmonies? They play an essential role in the behavior of the exceedingly useful Color Guide panel and Recolor Artwork command. If this is news to you, check out Chapter 25, “The Color Guide Panel.” Specifically the movie called “The 23 color harmony rules, diagrammed.” In which I show you how each of the color harmonies works, in a real Lab color wheel so you can’t help but understand, as pictured below:

Illustrator CS6 One-on-One: Advanced, Chapter 25,

Chapter 29, “The Appearance Panel,” might be the most ambitious chapter I’ve ever created. It documents one of Illustrator’s best features, the Appearance panel, in which I build not only the train track you see below, but also the bird’s-eye view of the old-style locomotive. That train engine is a combination of nearly 40 strokes heaped on a horizontal line that I drew with the Line Segment tool. (Only the smoke is a separate compound path. Yes, even the smoke stack, gold bell, and cow catcher are nothing but heaped-on strokes.) I might be the only person who would attempt this sorta thing. Which is to say, it’s mildly insane, but ultimately a whole lot of fun.

Illustrator CS6 One-on-One: Advanced, Chapter 29,

And then there’s Chapter 30, “Dynamic Effects,” in which I show you how to apply Illustrator’s most amazing and altogether live, editable filtering effects. Below we see the results of Transform, Offset, Pucker & Bloat, and some dynamic Pathfinders. This logo involves almost no drawing. It’s just a circle, a coupla stars, some text, and a bunch of command-based effects.

A logo created using dynamic effects in Illustrator CS6

There’s so much going on, it really does peal the mind.

And that’s just the beginning. So much logo experimentation as well. Check out the full course, Illustrator CS6 One-on-One: Advanced, for the complete story.

Next entry:Deke’s Techniques 183: Creating a Hobbit Movie Logo Effect in Adobe AI and Photoshop

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  • Illustrator Advanced

    I’m a member of lynda.com and am at present 24% through the advanced course.  (Jumped around a little) Had to see neon sign.

    I think I finally have half a handle on blending now, and can actually blend colors, paths, etc. and it actually looks good.

    I don’t use PS or AI professionally, just as toys.  Just purchaced a Wacom Bamboo to really confuse things.  (and I thought it would be easy).

    I also became a member of Creative cloud to get the newest stuff so I can keep up with your tutorials. I also really like the dark interface.

    So, keep up the great work, you have one loyal follower for sure.

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